Archive for July 2017

The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, people behind the annual Gawad Urian Awards, is celebrating the awards show’s 40th year. Started back in 1977, the award-giving body has recognized more than 200 Filipino films and 300 actors and actresses in all 12 of its categories. What I like most about the Urian is their complete archiving history and that they’re the only one of the four major award giving bodies to have maintained some sort of credibility. This year is pretty special for the group with Vilma Santos as the recipient of the Natatanging Gawad Urian. Personally wishing that they do some sort of a Gawad Urian Family Album of all the acting winner recipients thus far, ala Oscar family album style. Anyway, as per annual tradition, here are my prediction on who’ll end up as winners in 13 of their categories.

This year, Women of the Weeping River received the most nominations and what works in it favor is that the Urian is totally open arms when it comes to recognizing regional cinema, as shown by wins of Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria in 2010 and Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim in 2012. Giving it competition are Cinemalaya breakout Pamilya Ordinaryo which swept last year’s Cinemalaya Awards and is a consistent critical favorite from last year. That said, two films have put our country to world cinema spotlight last year: Cannes entry Ma’Rosa by Brillante Mendoza and Golden Lion recipient Ang Babaeng Humayo by Lav Diaz. It’s victory at Venice makes me think that Diaz is ahead, even by a hair only, in this race.

In recent years, the Urian doesn’t really care if the same film gets Best Picture and Best Director, as I think they’re more keen on spreading the wealth. That said, Lav Diaz has won this category only twice (in 2001 for Batang Westside and 2014 for Mula sa Kung Ano Ang Noon) that they’d be inclined to give him a third win here. Watch out for Sheron Dayoc as most possible to pull off the upset.

If we’re going with buzz, then Paolo Ballesteros seems like a shoo-in for this category already. His Tokyo International Film Fest winning performance in Die Beautiful is the stuff of which awards are made of. That said, this somehow reminds me of how Dennis Trillo, only an Urian left to grandslam, suddenly lost his category after being considered as the biggest lock for Aishite Imasu back in 2004. Sometimes, when a winner looks so obvious, the Manunuri tends to go to a different direction. With that, I’m currently predicting Ronwaldo Martin, younger brother of Urian winner Coco Martin, to net the Best Actor trophy for his performance as a street robber in Pamilya Ordinaryo.

The Urian surely loves their female acting categories this past year as both categories had 10 nominees each, definitely more than their male counterparts. Nora Aunor, Angeli Bayani, Cherry Pie Picache, and Elizabeth Oropesa have all won before for far stronger vehicles as compared to the ones they’re nominated for this year so I think they’re sitting this one out. Newbie Hasmine Killip would have made sense in a far weaker year, not this one with equally amazing co-nominees (also in line with my narrative, I’m already predicting Ronwaldo Martin, and I don’t see Manunuri loving Pamilya Ordinaryo that much to give it both lead wins). There’s a path for Precious Laila Ulao to win this one (as it reminds me of Fe GinGing Hyde’s win for Sheika in 2010, but again, that was a year with no strong frontrunner, again unlike this year. Both Irma Adlawan and AiAi delas Alas are strong contenders but the fact they they are both their films’ sole nominations gives me pause (for the record, the last Best Actress winner for a non-Best Picture nominated film was Maja Salvador in Thelma in 2011, but that was the year when they recognized the up and coming teens in the lead acting categories). In the end, I think this one is between Jaclyn Jose and Charo Santos. Jose is an Urian darling with 15 nominations under her name and five previous wins (her last was for Sarong Banggi in 2005) nominated for a role that bagged her the elusive and historic Cannes Best Actress win. Meanwhile, Charo Santos is an iconic figure in the industry in her acting comeback since the 70s in the Best Picture frontrunner. This is the perfect narrative to give her an Urian Best Actress win. I’d love to say that they’d go for a cop-out and give both Jose and Santos a much-talked about tie, but for predictions sake, I’d go safe with the Cannes winner Jaclyn Jose.

This category loves breakout young actors (unless you’re Dennis Trillo) and I’m more confident with Christian Bables to win here than his onscreen bestfriend Paolo Ballesteros. Bables is a breakout performance that garnered him awards and accolades already, and I see the Urian following suit. That said, it won’t surprise me if they decide to reward Women of the Weeping River and give Taha Daranda a win, or even a second consecutive Urian to John Lloyd Cruz for Ang Babaeng Humayo.

First up, apologies for the lack of a Mariam Raper photo. Even Cinema One’s promos for Urian lack her photos so I can’t seem to find one. That said, this is one category where there’s a lack of a clear frontrunner the same way that Paolo Ballesteros, Jaclyn Jose, Charo Santos, and Christian Bables are in their respective categories. Save for Meryll Soriano, none of these women have won an Urian and only Barbie Forteza is a previous nominee prior to this year. In a category as open as this one, I can see them going more adventurous (and by adventurous, I mean a young actress) with their picks leading me to predict a Barbie Forteza win for her role in Tuos. If not her, then Rhed Bustamante’s creepy kid in Seklusyon can join Serena Dalrymple’s 1998 win here as the other child acting performer in this category.

It’s a tad unusual that I’m predicting five nominees all from freshman shows this year, but then all are very showy directing pieces. I’m currently predicting Stranger Things to go really big this year; thus I’m going with two episodes from that show. For that remaining returning slot, I’m currently going with Homeland‘s “America First” episode directed by Leslie Linka Glater. Homeland has been nominated four of the last five years and three of those were from Glater.

If there’s one category that I’m most confident with The Leftovers, it’s for this one. Both The Handmaid’s Tale and The Crown were wise with their submissions, so I’m confident both are getting in too. I feel like the pilot of Stranger Things is a writer’s dream taking in a familiar territory and at the same time, building a mystery for the whole season. The Americans has been nominated for the last two years here, and while this is the least praised season thus far, I still think the show has its fans within the branch. I’m including in Better Call Saul only because this is too familiar of an episode that will appeal to the writers with its court scenes and long monologues and dialogues.

Current champ Hank Azaria is eligible once again for his performance in Ray Donovan so it seems likely he’ll get a nod to go for his consecutive win here. Beau Bridges has been nominated twice for this role already and the only reason why he missed last year is because he wasn’t eligible here and instead in the Supporting category. After pulling off an upset win in Supporting last year, Ben Mendelsohn is eligible here this time around so it might be an easy nom for this Aussie actor. A House of Cards actor has been nominated the last three years, and I expect the trend to continue, so I’m betting on Lars Mikkelsen to make it. For the last spot, I’ll go with two This Is Us actors: Gerard McRaney who made an impact in his role in the show, and Denis O’Hare who is a multiple Emmy nominee.

I don’t think the category campaign will confuse voters so I’m a tad certain that Alexis Bledel is getting in here, especially after those raves she received for the performance. Barb is an iconic pop culture figure already, so I’m seeing a scenario of Shnnon Purser getting in as well. Laverne Cox has been nominated once in the guest but it was still when the show was competing in the comedy categories. That said, her narrative and great showcase can get her a second career nod for this role. Since co-star Margo Martindale has been promoted to supporting status already, I’m currently predicting Allison Wright to get in here as she’s also probably helped by the goodwill of starring in Feud. While I was initially tempted to nominate two actresses from American Gods here considering it does not have any Emmy buzz outside of this category, these are Gillian Anderson and Cloris Leachman that we’re talking about here, both who have won and nominated yet again with Emmys.

Because I don’t think that this category will have a clean sweep of newbies, then Jonathan Banks make the most sense as a comeback nominee to get his third bid for an Emmy in Better Call Saul. John Lithgow is perceived as the current frontrunner but expect co-star Jared Harris (who was last nominated here for his turn in Mad Men) to join him. I’m a bit cautious with Westworld supporting actors as it reminds me a bit of Boardwalk Empire’s situation in its first season when we’re predicting a star to get in, only for everyone to miss. Thus, I’m going only with Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright to get in here. David Harbour is a hot or miss, but I think he’ll be carried with the Stranger Things love that’s bound to happen. Ron Cephas Jones makes sense as that nominee that can be carried because of the passion for both the actor and the show he’s in.

Like in Supporting Actor, I don’t think it’ll be an easy clean slate of nominees, so it’s a choice between Constance Zimmer and Maura Tierney. I went with the latter only because of name reputation. Vanessa Kirby is a scene-stealing name and the main push of the show in this category so Netflix is really serious in snatching her a nod. After getting Globe and SAG nods, Thandie Newton is Westworld‘s biggest chance for an acting nomination. Millie Bobby Brown already made her name in pop culture history, so that’s already an assured nomination. I’m a bit more skeptical about Winona Ryder, but I think she can sneak in and get a welcome nomination. With no co-star to battle with, I think Chrissy Metz is one of the breakout stars of the season and will likely add Emmy nominee in her resumé.

All six nominees are eligible to come back and receive a nomination, so I think Kevin Spacey, Matthew Rhys, and Bob Odenkirk will have no problem getting nominated yet again. Rami Malek can be that current winner only to be snubbed the next year, considering the close to non-existent buzz for Mr. Robot‘s second season, but I think he can sneak in one more nod this year. Since his win last year for People vs. OJ Simpson, Sterling K. Brown is in the hunt again for another Emmy with his great reviews and a surprise SAG nod for This is Us. For that last spot, I’m torn between Liev Schreiber to get a third consecutive nod for Ray Donovan or passion to bring Justin Theroux to land an Emmy nom. With Showtime managing to snatch random nods each year at the Emmys, I’m thinking Schreiber still has it in him to get one more nomination.

Two newbies are almost assured to get nominations this year and they’re also the two frontrunners for the win. There’s Claire Foy in The Crown and Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale. After getting in for a more crowded category last year, Keri Russell is still in for a second bid in The Americans. Three actresses who have been mainstays here the past few years were Oscar winner Viola Davis who was the champ here in 2015, Claire Danes who won back to back in 2012 and 2013, and Robin Wright who has been nominated four times now. I don’t think all three will get in this year, so I’m leaving Viola Davis off only because there is literally no buzz for her show anymore. In her place, I think the huge buzz for The Leftovers can net Carrie Coon a surprise nomination in the end.

With Game of Thrones absence this year, it’s an up for grabs race for everyone. Both The Americans and Better Call Saul can add another nomination for the show in the top race here. The two Netflix shows have the pop culture buzz and the critical response to both get in so expect The Crown and Stranger Things to be nominated as well. The reception for The Handmaid’s Tale is perfect fit for Hulu to finally join the club and get nominated for the top plum. It’s a tad weird that House of Cards is missing in a post-election season no less, but between Netflix having stronger contenders plus a less buzzy season, I think it will finally miss this year. HBO, on the other hand, has two contenders to replace GoT here: the sci-fi show Westworld and cult favorite The Leftovers. I don’t think there’s room for both to get in, and even if I’m so tempted to go with a NGNG prediction of The Leftovers, I’ll stick with Westworld here. The last network show to be nominated for the top prize is The Good Wife for Season2 back in 2011 and since then, network dramas have find it really hard to get back again. Even huge show Empire missed three years ago and The Good Wife missed for its widely loved fifth season. That said, i think This Is Us will probably do the trick and get in this year.

There you have it! Can’t wait for the Emmy nominations tonight! talk to me on Twitter: @nikowl.

It’s still Emmys 2017 week here at Tit for Tat! The last two days we’ve discussed both Reality and Variety as well as the TV Movie and Limited Series categories. It’s time to move to the funniest shows of the season: the Comedy genre!

It’s noteworthy to mention that Transparent has won this category the last two years, thanks to Jill Solloway, but this year she opted to submit for that and went for I Love Dick instead. I’m really not sure if the risk will pay off for her, but I think she has enough supporters to get her a third bid for the win. Silicon Valley and Veep are likely to get nominated again, and like last year, I’m going with multiple nods for the current Best Comedy Series champ. I’m certain that Master of None will also get nominated, the question though is for which episode? The Thief seems likeliest to get in here in this category. For that last spot, I can see another episode of Master of None getting in or Oscar winner Barry Jenkins for his episode in Dear White People. That said, I’m counting on Donald Glover’s directed Atlanta episode to snag a nom here.

The writers branch usually is a breath of fresh air and the least likely to join usual consensus when it comes to nominating shows. This category has given nods to shows like Sports Night, Freaks and Geeks,Community, and Catastrophe. This year, I think the recipient of that slot per se, is writer/actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge for the pilot of Fleabag. I’m sensing a bit of an Episodes vibe from Catastrophe after its surprise nod here last year, and with only one episode submitted, I think it’s in. Then there are the usual suspects: Veep, Silicon Valley, and Master of None. I’m currently predicting that Atlanta will both get in Writing and Directing, but don’t be shocked if the tandem of Pamela Adlon & Louis CK will push Better Things to a nod.

I think there are two surefire contenders here with regular mainstay in this category, Melissa McCarthy for hosting yet another season of Saturday Night Live. I also think Carrie Fisher will net a posthumous nod for Catastrophe and might even contend for a win once nominated. Kristen Wiig has two shows in contention and while it’s her Last Man on Earth that gets more critical acclaim, her SNL hosting is an easy namecheck here. I’m not sure if voters are totally *over* the Big Bang Theory to drop both Christine Baranski and Laurie Metcalfe, so I’m retaining the latter here especially since Emmys tend to love nominating her. Angela Bassett is the standout guest actress mentioned from Master of None, and she’s a multiple Emmy nominee who checks a lot of boxes in terms of pedigree, show stature, and performance so I’m currently predicting her. Last slot is tricky. It can go to either Maya Rudolph in an too out there performance in Kimmy Schmidt, but I’m probably in wishful thinking mode so I’m going with Becky Ann Baker for Girls.

With his surprise win last year, I think Peter Scolari will be an easy inclusion this time around inspite of getting a more limited screentime as compared to his winning season. I’m not sure if Girls is strong enough to net multiple nods so I’m ruling both Riz Ahmed and Matthew Rhys out here. Meanwhile, two shows who are strong enough to get multiple nods are current Best Comedy Series winner Veep with Peter MacNicol and Hugh Laurie, as well as the trio of Saturday Night Live hosts: Dave Chapelle, Tom Hanks, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. I’m most cautious about the last one, but he seems to be an it guy who has been nominated at the Oscars and Tonys so he’s literally everywhere the last two years or so.

With Allison Janney moving in Lead, this opens up a slot here as well as Niecy Nash leaving with Getting On ineligible this time around. First up, let’s discuss the mainstays: Chlumsky, current winner McKinnon, and Judith Light of Transparent. I wonder if Kathryn Hahn and her good will can overcome possible perennial nominee Gaby Hoffmann but I’ll stay safe and predict the latter. It’s literally been decades since Rita Moreno last got nominated for an Emmy and she was snubbed after being widely predicted for Jane the Virgin, but I see Netflix factor working its charm to net her a welcome back nod. I don’t know what to make of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt but I feel it’s on a decline in terms of Emmy nods, so I’m not feeling Jane Krakowski this year. Instead, I’m putting Girls’ Allison Williams to snatch an Emmy nod due to the Get Out lovefest and a way to honor and nominate the finale season of Girls.

Does it make sense when I say that Alec Baldwin getting in or missing out are both feasible scenario? Baldwin donning Trump is an easy scenario of Hollywood making a statement, but then again Baldwin donning Trump is too easy a scenario to give this multiple Emmy winner another nod. I’m still thinking that Burgess still has at least an Emmy nod in him despite UKS’ decline in buzz. Ty Burrell seems to me is that someone who’ll likely be nominated as long as the show is still on air despite losing all buzz already, so I’m still keeping him in. For a show that is not as praised or acclaimed as the previous ones, we have to keep in mind that Veep is still a 2x winner for the top Emmy plum and it really has a huge recall among voters. Thus, I’m predicting Timothy Simons to join both Tony Hale and Matt Walsh as nominees here…which also means I’m predicting current winner Louie Anderson to miss out. There’s a huge chance he’ll really get in again, but we all had stranger winner to snubee scenarios before (Eric Stonestreet, Julianna Margulies etc), and he seems to fit the bill.

With Allison Janney moving in Lead, I think she’ll still get in as it’s the same trajectory she had with her The West Wing fate, only that was for a show that’s really loved by the Emmys. of course at this stage, suffice to say, Queen JLD is in and is probably in the hunt for the record breaking sixth consecutive win. Golden Globe winner Tracee Ellis Ross is likely to garner another nomination too this year. I’m still predicting both Ellie Kemper and Lily Tomlin, even if that means I’m more confident in the latter and can see a scenario of the former missing. The last spot seems open for a passion contender, and while I’m torn if it’s Issa Rae or Phoebe Waller-Bridge (maybe both get in and Kemper misses out in the end), I went with the latter.

All six men nominated last year are likely to get in again, but Golden Globe winning Donald Glover (and his show Atlanta) is too buzzy a contender to be snubbed. That means leaving out the weakest contender from the group — Will Forte.

With Atlanta getting really huge buzz and acclaim, it’s path to a series nomination is really likely. I’m torn on who leaves then: is it Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt who’s on a decline buzz-wise? Is it former 5x champ Modern Family especially in the presence of co-ABC sitcom black-ish? Is it Transparent which has been the receiving end of “but it’s not a comedy claim?” I went with Modern Family out only because it seems old news by now.

To complete the predictions, it’s time for the drama category tomorrow!

Welcome to Part 2 of our #Emmys2017 week here at Tit for Tat. Before the nomination announcement on July 13, I’ll be sharing my predictions on who’ll get Emmy nominated in the different categories up for this year’s Primetime Emmys. We started with the Reality and Variety categories yesterday, and today’s spotlight is on TV Movies and Limited Series. Personally speaking, this is the most exciting part of this year’s awards as some of the best and most praised shows are competing here for this year.

It still baffles me how Netflix managed to pull off submitting one episode here instead of the whole show in Limited Series, but they probably took advantage of the relatively weak year for television movies. They went with their most acclaimed episode of the season, the futuristic San Junipero, and I feel like getting the nod is its toughest battle. Once nominated, it will easily sail to a win come September. HBO has two entries to the race this year, both lukewarm in reception and buzz. First, we have the Robert de Niro starrer The Wizard of Lies, and then we have Oprah in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. While both are shoo-in in terms of getting nominated, only the former stands a chance to actually win here. For its fourth installment, Sherlock submitted The Lying Detective, and there’s no reason to see it getting snubbed considering all previous editions have been nominated here before. For that last spot, there’s a potential of contenders that can snatch that spot: PBS has Churchill, Lifetime has Suite Francaise with Michelle Williams and Matthias Schoenarts, and Custody with Viola Davis. Netflix has The Most hated Woman in America with Melissa Leo. That said, I’ll go with National Geographic’s Killing Reagan which has a tad of good history here with two of the previous Killing series being nominated as well.

Three slots are already assured here: HBO’s pop culture phenomenon Big Little Lies, the third season of Fargo, and Ryan Murphy’s breakout season of Feud, featuring the infamous rivalry of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Sitting safely in fourth I think is HBO’s other series The Night Of, which if snubbed — will only be because it came out really early last year. For the last spot, it can either go to HBO’s third pony in the race, the Jude Law starrer The Young Pope, or Guerilla which stars Emmy nominee Idris Elba. While ABC has pulled off the plug when it comes to American Crime, I think it can still squeak in one last nod just for the pedigree of the show being nominated for the previous two seasons.

Robert de Niro has never been nominated for an Emmy, so we’re sure he ain’t missing for The Wizars of Lies. Same goes for Ewan McGregor’s double trouble performance in Fargo. Benedict Cumberbatch is a previous Emmy winner for this performance, so I think he’s still getting in a last time for Sherlock. Both Riz Ahmed and John Turturro have been nominated for Golden Globes and SAG for The Night Of; thus I’m predicting the same Emmy fate for them. That last spot is tricky – Emmy winner Geoffrey Rush is in a baity role for the miniseries Genius or Jude Law in a very showy character as well. Toss the con eitherway, I got Law in that last spot.

Four spots are already locked in this one. There’s 3x winner Jessica Lange for her portrayal of Joan Crawford in Feud plus the Big Little Lies twosome of Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. I see a scenario of Susan Sarandon getting snubbed just because of her off show persona, but I think she’s easily getting in. After her surprise SAG nod earlier this year, Bryce Dallas Howard seems likely to follow it up with an Emmy nod for her wickedly outlandish performance in Black Mirror. The last spot is up for grabs between three women – there’s Oprah in her passion project, Emmy favorite Felicity Huffman who was previously nominated twice for this show, and then there’s Carrie Coon. I can see a path for Coon being Patrick Wilson-ed this year due to the subtlety of the role, but between that and her role in The Leftovers, she’ll probably get her overdue obligatory nod here instead.

The two men of Feud are both veteran actors who have been previously Emmy nominated so expect to see them again this year. Hank Azaria is an Emmy favorite getting in multiple times in the past for a lot of previous projects (both successful and not). I’d like to think that Alexander Skarsgaard is getting in, as carried by the love for Big Little Lies, and he’s the show’s supporting actor who has the biggest chance of getting nominated. Bill Camp is a bit of a risk, but his is a performance I actually think will resonate and will surprise come nomination morning. I don’t think Fargo is that breakout this season to merit two nominees here and while Michael Stuhlbarg is the more predicted name, I think David Thewlis is the one getting in, reminiscent of last year when Ted Danson seems the likely nominee only to be upset by co-star Bokeem Woodbine.

This is probably the most crowded acting category we have at the Emmys for the limited series as it’s a combination of veteran names, breakthrough actresses, Oscar winners and more. So with that, let’s try to dissect them slot per slot. Let’s begin with Regina King. Sure, American Crime has been canceled already but it’s safe to assume that the current champ in this category for the last two years is coming back. Another familiar name is Judy Davis, also a 2x winner here for her flashy performance in Feud. I’d like to believe that both Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern of Big Little Lies are next – both had great reviews, and Dern is a past multi-Emmy nominee, and Woodley is a lead star of their show. The last two slots can be really filled with many Oscar winners – there’s Viola Davis in Custody, Catherine Zeta Jones also from Feud, and Diane Keaton in The Young Pope. It can also go to Fargo‘s Mary Elizabeth Winstead or The Night Of‘s Jeannie Berlin. I’m currently predicting Michelle Pfeiffer to be snubbed on Emmy morning, so my last two slots go to two familiar names who are mainstays here for the last few years – both from American Horror Story: Roanoke: – Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates.

I’m just going with really familiar names here. I think Jean-Marc Vallee, Noah hawley, and Ryan Murphy are all assured of nods already. Steven Zaillan is also a familiar enough name in The Night Of‘s only submission here. I also think the pedigree plus the flashy material will also lead Joe Wright to an Emmy nomination for Black Mirror. Paolo Sorrentino is more of an arthouse name than an Emmy household voter one, but that did not stop last year’s Susanne Bier from actually even winning.

Seventh nominee: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, “Winter” (Amy Sherman-Palladino)

Expect the same group of shows I’m predicting in Directing to get in here as well, only difference would be no The Young Pope here, with Sherlock replacing it here considering it got in for all the previous installments of the show.

The Emmys, considered as television’s highest honor, will reveal their nominees for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards for the previous television season. Before Anna Chlumsky and Shemar Moore announce the shows and performers that will be up for the Emmy, let’s predict 31 different categories starting with the reality and variety genres:

So You Think You Can Dance exited the lineup last year but it was not Survivor who came back. Instead, NBC’s American Ninja Warrior snatched an out of nowhere surprise nomination. While all six shows nominated last year are eligible to come back, I think one will make way for Rupaul’s Drag Race. After RuPaul’s win last year in the host category and its continuously increasing presence in mainstream media and pop culture, it is ripe for a nomination in this category. My bet is on Project Runway.

Two nominees from last year aren’t eligible for this year: previous champ here Jane Lynch for Hollywood Game Night and Ryan Seacrest for American Idol. Alec Baldwin seems like a prototype of the slot that Jane Lynch left — a previous Emmy winning actor who carries their show, in this case – Match Game. While I’m tempted to say Martha and Snoop will be nominated together, I’d go with a comeback for 4x winner Jeff Probst in a way to acknowledge the renaissance Survivor has been enjoying the past few years.

The Oscars and the Tonys are mainstays in this category and between the iconic Best Picture brouhaha at the Oscars and James Corden’s lauded Tony hosting last year, expect them to get nods again. Hairspray Live follows the path of other network specials such as Grease and The Wiz Live so I’m predicting it as well. The last two Olympic specials have garnered wins in this category, so it’s safe to predict the Rio opening NBC special to get in. As for that last spot, it’s a feud between two big superstars who have been compared to each other a lot since the other’s boom to pop music: Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour which was shown on Showtime, and Lady Gaga who headlined the SuperBowl 51 earlier this year. It can really go both ways, but I’ll say Queen gets in first.

Sixth nominee: Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet To Come (NBC)

The Kennedy Center Honors has won five consecutive times, and has been continuously nominated since, so I won’t be surprised to see it again. Last year, James Corden pulled off the upset over Beyonce’s Lemonade and Adele’s NBC special, so it assures another nod here. Three Netflix specials gives me pause but hear me out – Louis CK has been nominated for all his previous efforts here so there’s that. Dave Chapelle has been the biggest that Netflix promoted a comedy special in quite some time so they’re really giving it the push and attention. I’m the most skeptical about Justin Timberlake, but what makes me predict him is that this can be a way for them to honor the late Jonathan Demme who directed this one.

OUTSTANDING VARIETY TALK PROGRAM
• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
• The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)

Seventh nominee: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Crackle)

After winning last year, Last Week Tonight is an easy call for another round of nomination. Same goes for James Corden and his viral gimmicks and antics. Between his Oscar duties and his heartfelt story about his son, Jimmy Kimmel is on Hollywood’s good graces, so I expect his show to be back as well. After receiving a Writing nod last year, I think this is the year that Full Frontal with Samantha Bee gets recognized for the actual program too. Stephen Colbert is a much-loved name in this category, and I think the Emmys are ready to embrace him again. For that last spot, I could go with wither Real Time with Bill Maher who just missed one time since this category’s inception, but then Maher’s controversy might affect his chances here. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee surprised everyone with a nod, but I felt it’s a one-time thing. I guess I’ll go with a last time nod for The Tonight Show which will provide balance to the politically themed content of the other late night shows.

With Inside Amy Schumer and Key & Peele not eligible this season, we’re bound to get two newbies in this category. I say one goes to Tracey Ullman who has a history with getting nominated at the Emmys, an Billy on the Street who continues to get bigger as each season passes, getting some of the most notable names for the season.